Reading: Jack Beckman preview

BECKMAN'S GOAL IN READING IS SIMPLE: WIN THE RACE
NORTH HILLS, Calif. (Aug. 15, 2007) - We've said it before. Jack Beckman
is living his dream. In only his first full season of Funny Car
competition in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, he...

BECKMAN'S GOAL IN READING IS SIMPLE: WIN THE RACE

NORTH HILLS, Calif. (Aug. 15, 2007) - We've said it before. Jack Beckman
is living his dream. In only his first full season of Funny Car
competition in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, he has won twice and
has earned a spot in the top eight for the new Countdown to the
Championship, the next phase of which begins at the U.S. Nationals in
Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend.

Piloting the Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T for Don Schumacher
Racing, Beckman is fifth in the standings, just seven markers short of
fourth and 20 points out of third, where he'd like to be before the
"Countdown to Four" begins.

"It's exciting," he said. "Coming into Reading with a spot in the
Countdown is like going into the last qualifying session knowing you
can't be bumped out. But, you still want to do everything right.

"Our goal is real simple: win the race. The added incentive for us to win
the race is we can still move up as high as third in the points. We could
get around John Force (in fourth), we could get around Mike Ashley (in
third) if we win the race there.

"It's very comforting knowing that, no matter what, we're in the
Countdown.

"Reading was supposed to have been my debut last year for Schumacher
Racing, and we went out there and sat in the rain," added Beckman, who
joined DSR for the last five races of 2006. "So it actually wound up
being my second race. I also raced there in Top Fuel in 2005. I have a
lot of cousins coming out because (wife) Jenna and I have family in this
area. Her family is from the Pennsylvania and Delaware area, mine's from
the Maryland area, so I've got over a dozen cousins, aunts and uncles
coming out.

"This time of year the weather is always a question mark. It could be
nasty, hot and humid, but Friday night's qualifying might be amazing with
all the oxygen around there. I'm excited. I think it's going to be an
interesting driver's race this weekend."